[Sci-tech-public] STS Circle, September 19th - Rajeswari Raina - (Please RSVP)

[STS]

*STS Circle at Harvard

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[image: samuelevansresear/7D21F2C9.gif]
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*Rajeswari Raina*

*National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies**, India*
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on

*Norms of expertise–agricultural production and the environment in India  *



Monday, September 19

12:15-2:00 p.m.

124 Mt. Auburn Street, Suite 100, Room 106

[image: samuelevansresear/7D21F2C9.gif]

Lunch is provided if you RSVP.
Please RSVP to sts
<sts at hks.harvard.edu>@hks.harvard.edu<sts at hks.harvard.edu>by 5pm
Thursday, September 15.
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*Abstract:* Policy concerns in Indian agriculture are no longer confined to
increasing productivity. Political leaders and policy makers demand that
scientists pay more attention to environmental degradation and limited
incremental response to production technologies.   But there is little
discussion on the content of these technologies and the ways in which they
are generated.   An analysis of the evolution of public sector agricultural
R&D, especially the ways in which credentials for selection and
authorisation of expertise as well as the autonomy granted to experts are
formulated and practiced, reveals how the distance between production and
the environment is institutionalized.  Despite voicing concern about the
environment, policy instruments repeatedly reinforce expertise that pitches
agricultural technologies against the environment.  Drawing upon the example
of diverse rainfed cropping systems, and the case of pest management in
particular, the paper elaborates on different dimensions of expertise. It
argues for a different understanding of expertise, within a framework of
agriculture *in* the environment.


*Biography*:  Rajeswari S. Raina* *(Ph.D. Economics – Centre for Development
Studies)* *is a* *Scientist with the National Institute of Science,
Technology and Development Studies (NISTADS), CSIR, New Delhi.  She has a
background in the sciences and economics, and is a keen student of the
interface between development policy and scientific knowledge. Current
research focuses on policy and institutional reform, as well as capacities
for (a) innovation for inclusive development in India and China, (b)
bio-innovation systems, and (c) changes in agriculture-environment policies,
knowledge and practice.


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